Chapter 57

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Will

A s Maya winced, my hands gripped into fists. It was almost time for her pain medication, but each time I saw hurt ghost over her face, it killed me. She was on the sofa propped up with pillows, lying under a duvet. She kept dropping off to sleep, but when she woke she assured me that she was fine.

Her eyes fluttered as she lifted her arm with the cast on it. "What time is it?" she asked.

"You ready for your pain killers?"

"Not yet, I was just wondering whether it was time for Maddy to get back."

Getting up from my chair, I went over and kneeled at the side of the sofa, smoothing a hand over her hair. "She will be totally fine about you being here, honestly."

"I just feel like I've been forced upon her." A small grimace swept over her face. "I don't want to ruin the relationship I'm building with her. I love you and she's your daughter and so I want to be friends with her."

"Exactly, she's my daughter and I know her. I know how big her heart is, and there is no way she would want you anywhere else but here. I love you and having you here makes me happy and that's all she'll want."

At that exact moment, I heard a key in the door and, as it always did when I knew my daughter was home safe, relief flashed through my body.

"And here she is." I pushed up from the floor and went into the hallway. As I stepped into it the front door swung open and my beautiful daughter stepped inside. She looked tired but happy as she stepped into my arms. "Hey, Mads, did you have a good time?"

"It was the best, Dad. We had such a good time and the house where the party was, God Dad, it was unbelievable. They had a swimming pool, and a bar, and a proper DJ and?—"

"Okay, okay," I said with a laugh. "Take a breath."

She let out a breathy laugh. "Sorry." She grinned. "How was your weekend? Miss me?"

I cleared my throat and glanced behind me, towards the lounge door. "Maya is here."

"Still? Ah brill. What did you do?"

She took a step to move past me and I caught her hand.

"I didn't call you, because I didn't want to worry you, but she had a car accident so is going to stay here for a while. Is that okay with you?"

"Of course, I don't mind. She's okay, though?" Her voice was almost a whisper as she clutched her jacket in the region of her heart.

"Broken wrist and cracked ribs—oh, and a few bruises. Really, she was lucky because she veered onto the hard shoulder."

Once again, the horror of what might have been, appeared like a ghost on my shoulder, making me shudder. Thank Christ for Maya's quick thinking.

"Is she in there or in bed."

I thumbed over my shoulder. "She's awake, but I'm just about to get her painkillers. Go in and see her."

Without any hesitation, Maddy skipped past me and into the lounge. I paused for a few seconds, listening and felt my heart warm when I heard Maddy ask if she could give Maya a hug. The way they'd taken to each other so quickly was just perfect; I could have so easily have got it wrong by introducing them so soon. I guessed that now the L word had been used it was official that we were serious about each other, and it was more important than ever that Maddy and Maya liked each other.

When I went back into the lounge a few minutes later, with a glass of water and Maya's pills, Maya was telling Maddy what happened. I'd only heard bits and pieces, not wanting to put her through reliving it, but she sounded okay as she spoke.

"I saw him in my rearview mirror, getting closer, and was I yelling at him to just overtake me, but I think he was coming off at the next junction because I vaguely remember his indicator going." She sighed. "I didn't want to move lanes because it was quite misty and raining."

"I don't blame you," Maddy replied. "And what happened? He just went into the back of you?"

"I braked, because the lorry in front of me did, but dickhead behind didn't. He went into the back of me and shunted me forward, so I just about managed to steer away from the lorry. I braced on the steering wheel, but when I hit the bank, I lurched forward, and my wrist was caught at a funny angle when the airbag went off."

Having heard enough, I stepped out of the shadow of the door and went to stand next to the sofa, trying to quell my anger.

"I hope the police do him for dangerous driving," I grumbled, handing Maya her water and pills.

"Jack says that the police said he doesn't have insurance." She smiled up at me and popped the pills in her mouth. "He'll get into real trouble for that."

"Good," Maddy snapped. "What a dick. It's intimidation as well as shit driving."

Maya smiled, but I could see that it was laced with pain. "I think maybe you should go up to bed, gorgeous."

"God, Dad, you're so mushy, it's icky," Maddy groaned.

"Whatever, Madeline, but I don't care." Grinning at Maddy, I crouched down beside Maya and rubbed her thigh over the duvet. "You look shattered."

She nodded as she swallowed the pills with a sip of water. "Yeah, I think I will."

"Get in my bed, and I'll get in the spare one to give you some space for your wrist." When she frowned, I smiled. I didn't want to sleep in a different bed either, but I still thought she'd have a better night without me. "Just for tonight, at least."

"Yeah, okay." She threw back the duvet and swung her legs off the sofa. She was wearing cute pink and white striped shortie pyjamas, and even with a cast on her arm and bruises on her face and shins, she looked incredible. "Night, Maddy, and I'm glad you had a good time in London. And don't worry about that mean ex-girlfriend."

"I won't, don't worry."

I made a mental note to ask about that once I'd settled Maya in bed. Even so, her feeling happy to tell Maya was another reason to feel like life was good.

Ten minutes later, with Maya already asleep, I went back into the lounge to find Maddy frantically texting.

"How the hell do your thumbs go so fast?" I asked her, flopping down next to her.

"Practice, Daddy. That's all it takes."

"Who you texting anyway. Surely not Zak, you've been with him all weekend."

"Nope. Ana."

I rolled my eyes, still not sure why she would want to be friends with her after what she did. Over reaction on my part? Maybe.

Expressive eyes looked up at me. "She bailed on us at the weekend."

"You never said when we spoke over the weekend. You just said you were having a great time."

"We were." She shrugged. "I didn't think to tell you." Biting on her lip, Maddy pulled her feet up and sat crossed-legged, facing me. "She just didn't turn up, Dad. We waited as long as we could at the station, and me, Em and Liv all called her loads of time, but she didn't answer any of them."

"It's her own fault that she missed out, sweetheart. There wasn't much else you could do about it." Her eyes were full of worry, and I wished that she had a few more years' experience. Then she'd realise that none of it was her fault. "Take my hand."

She gave me a withering look but took it, anyway, smiling when I wrapped my other around it.

"Ana is a troubled girl at the moment. You've tried to help her with her mum, suggesting she go away for the weekend with you. You didn't even really kick off when she got you pissed."

"Dad, I was pissed already."

"I know that but," I said, patting her hand still in mine, "I know you, and I know that you're sensible enough to know when you've had enough to drink. Her spiking your cider with vodka wasn't funny because it took away your control, and we all know how you like to have control." I smile wryly and earned myself a grin.

"I don't always have to have control, but I do know you're right. Zak and I even argued about it." She shook her head. "And he's on your side."

"Good lad."

"As if he'd do or say anything opposite to you. He loves you."

She shook her head, but her grin told me she liked the idea.

"Like I said, he's a good lad." Grinning, I pulled her close, so that her cheek was resting on my chest. "I'm glad you had a good time, Mads, but I'm also glad that you're home, safe and sound. As for Ana, I personally would be avoiding her." I heard her take a breath to speak, but I jumped in before she had chance. "I'm not saying cut her out of your life totally, but I do think you should maybe keep your distance. At least while she's in the head space that she's in."

"Dad, I can't not be there for her. She's my best friend. What if she needs my help?"

"Then be there for her. Check in with her, but make sure you don't let her take her advantage of you again. Be on your guard and make sure she knows no more stunts, or I'll be speaking to her mum and dad."

She contemplated it for a few seconds and then nodded. "I will. I'll speak to her tomorrow and try and find out why she didn't turn up." Her head shifted against my chest. "Am I an awful friend, Dad?"

I looked down to see worry in her eyes. "Why, sweetheart?"

"I didn't think of her once, the whole weekend."

"Don't feel bad about that. It's understandable, the ways she's been recently, and no one begrudges you having a good time. You're seventeen, that's what you're supposed to be doing."

"I know, but she's my best friend, and she never entered my head."

Maddy had a big heart, and she loved Ana, but she needed to realise it was okay to have fun.

"That's okay, Mads, because you should be able to have fun without worrying about it or anyone else." I hugged her tight. "Life is too short, and it's not like Ana will know."

"I suppose." She sighed. "Anyway, did you save me anything to eat? I'm starving."

"You haven't eaten already?"

"A crappy sandwich before we got on the train."

I kissed the top of her head. "Good job I saved you some lasagne then. Garlic bread?"

"Oh yes please, and mayo on the side."

"You're a weird child," I told her, even though I would give her anything she wanted, even mayonnaise with lasagne. It was good to be taking care of her, because if she went away to uni, I wouldn't have many more opportunities for a while.

Later, I went to check in on my other girl and was surprised to find her awake.

"Hey, gorgeous." I knelt by the side of the bed and ran a hand down her hair. "You in pain?"

"Hmm, a bit. Nothing major. I only just woke." She gave me a sad little smile and reached up to place her hand on mine. "Can't I sleep with you?"

Chuckling I ran my finger over her pouty lips. "No, you need to get some proper sleep, and I don't want to roll onto your arm."

"You can sleep on the other side."

"But you know I like to fling my arm over you, then what about your ribs?"

Maya sighed heavily, followed by a little grimace.

"See," I told her. "You can't even sigh without pain."

Her eyes fluttered closed, and then she nodded. "I know. I just miss you."

The feeling that swept through me felt like warmth had been injected into my veins. The heat reached every single pore, every single nerve ending, and mixed with the excitement that hadn't stop swirling since I'd met Maya. Being a kid on Christmas morning had nothing on how waking up every day with Maya as mine felt.

"I miss you, too." I kissed her forehead. "Now, go to sleep and shout if you need anything. Do not get out of bed."

"Okay." Her response was resigned as she pulled the duvet up.

"Pills are next to the bed." I didn't want to leave her, but she really did need to sleep.

"How's Maddy. She told me about Zak's horrible ex-girlfriend."

"She's fine. I think she's more worried about Ana not turning up to go with them. Her words to me about the ex were, ‘She's insignificant to me, and if he chooses her over me then he's not the boy I thought he was.'"

Maya chuckled, and when her eyelids slowly closed, I knew it was time to let her sleep.

"Night, gorgeous," I whispered. "I love you."

And I did. More than I thought possible so quickly. More than I'd expected.

"Love you, too," she whispered back, and that warmth just spread wider, filling ever corner of my being.